Fluid type inertia device



D.24,194o. l 'ERSEXTON 2,225,716

FLUID TYPE INERTI DEVICE I8 lNvr-:NroR Evi-:HETT P. SEXTON ATTORNEY Dec.24, 1940.

E. P. SEXTON FLUID TYPE INERTA DEVICE' Filed March :51, 1939 2sheds-sheet 2 55 847 i? n3\ uc, 84 l H 15 l Tkg'g? 38 I 37 '5. 5'

1 g n* l 'Z INVENTOR EVEHETT RSEXTON Patentes Deo. 24,1940

i UNITE-o STATES FLUID mr: msnm nnvron Everett P. Sexton El McK-eeslwrt,Pa., assigner to The Westinghouse Air' Brake Company. Wilmelding, Pa., acorporations! Pennsylvania -L j applieouon vMeren 31,1939. ser-lei No.265,113

1d Claims.

'rms invention rentes to' num type'lnerue dee vices and has particularrelation to fluid type inertia devices responsive to the ratevof change-of rotative speed of a rotating element to conr'" l.trol the operationof a signal device or other mechanism, -suchas brake apparatusassociatedwithethe rotating'element. f

It is an object of my invention to provide a device of simple and sturdyconstruction as well e in as low cost which may be associated with-arotating element in a manner to, register the rate' of change of speedthereof.

More specifically, it is an object of my invention to provide a deviceincluding means fox:

connning a fluid body oi' high speciiic gravity,

parent in' the subsequent detailed descriptionthe-ac--J thereof lwhenread in connection with companying drawings. `wherein, 30 Fig; ils a ticview, showing one-emfbodimen't of my invention and an illustrativeapplication thereof in a' vehicle brake control equipment*4 7 Fig. 2 isa vertical sectionaiview taken on the Cil ' the device atthe end of-a'car wheel axle,

Fig. 3 is a view,'showing another embodiment the journal for-the carwheel axle,

4li'ig.diss.fragmento]setstionalvirmtaken on.

theline 4 4 of. Fig. `3, showing'further details of construction, i o

Fig.. 5 is a view, taken on the-line l-l of Fig. 4, showing furtherdetails of construction, and Fig. 6 isfa sectional view, taken'o'ntheline e-tofl'ig.5. -v Description ol embodiment shown in Figs'. 1 and2 pluralityof-eelamps or brackets Il' and corresponding screwsv I3 tothe end of a shaft or other `g55 rotating element, shown in Fig. '2 asthe axle such as mercury; in an annular tubular line 2--2 of Pigri,showing further details-of construction as well as a mannerof mountingof my invention and' AAits associative relation to 40 sir-own comprisesen annuler tube' H of mutable (Cl. 20G- 52) Il to which a car wheel i5is fixed, in am'annei 4 so ias to be rotatedon an axis that intersects 1the center of curvature of the tube and that is coincident with the axisofv rotation of 'the axle; The annular .tube -II is open at one pointtherein'and a movablev abutment, such'as an arcuate plunger orpistonelement I,.is arranged between the spaced ends of the .tube in a mannerthat Ithe opposite ends of the plunger s lidably engage wi the twoopposite ends of the tube.

Il in clon fitting and sealed' relation. While packing or sealingribsor'rings may be provided -on the plunger II to prevent leakage ofthe iiuid from the tube past the plunger.v

in the wall of the tubewhereby iluid` may bel introduced into the tube,andv a screw plugv Il provided for closing the after the tubeismledwitnnuid. E 8 0.'

'The plunger Il is'formed, lt ak point between the ends of the tubeIi,'with a recessed or yoke portion il for receiving a ball-shaped knob2l on the end of a lever 22 that' ispivoted', interme- 'diate' the endsthereof,on spin!! carriedbyan arcuateconneeting strut 2l that is formedwith or attached -at opposite-ends thereof to two of Intel-posed betweenthe brackets l2 and the outer end of the jaxle. I4 -is a base member 25of insulatln material, lthrough which the securing 'screws Il for thebrackets extend. Formed as a part of or'attached'to the insulating base2i are a pair of projecting lugs 4l `arrangedin spaced symmetricalrelation onopposite sides respectively-of the inner end ofthe leveren.-Slid-l .ably'carried-by each offthe lugs 21 is-a plunger nfeachplungerhaving ahead at one end andbeixg 4threaded at the opposite end. Each ofthe plungers 2l is provided .on the threaded Vend thereof with a nut andlock nut Il and Il -respectively, and interposed between the nut 2l andthe vlug 21 is a coil spring 8l which urges the plunger '28 towardthelever 22 to. effect the' simultaneous engagement of' the head of the v45plunger with the lug 21 and of the threaded end of the plunger lwith thelever. The arrangment of the two phmgers 2l and the location of the lugs21 is such .that the'lever 22,'is centered in a normal position midwaybetween the lugs 21. By means of the nuts 2l and 3l. the coil springs Ilmay be adjusted in tension so that the plungers Il resist the pivotalmovementof the lever --II out of its normal-position with differentdetired trees of force. As will -be explained PATENT olrlcie;l

, not shown, 'it will be understoodihat suitable 15" A suitableftappedopening-may be provided the broeken .la aiment the ends-of .me tunen;`

more fully hereinafter, when the inertia device is employed inconnection with a vehicle brake pivotal movement of the lever 22 Iout ofits normal centered position in response to the inertia force' of theannular fluid column within the tube Il acting through the plunger llion the outer end of the lever 32, unless the rotative'deceleration or'acceleration of the vehicle axle Mi and wheel I5 exceeds a certainrate, such as a rate corresponding to a'rate of retardation oracceleration of the vehicle of seven miles per hour per second.

Suitably fixed in a row on a projecting shelf 33 forming a part of theinsulatingr base 25 are a plurality, shown as of contact lingers Ma,34h, 34o, 35a, 3517 and 35o. The contact lingers are arranged in .twogroups of three each on opposite sides respectively of the inner end ofthe lever 22 which is provided with a suitable insu-L1 lating tip 3l.that extends between the inner two of the contact lingers.

' The contact lingers are of suitable flexible resilient character, orthey may have biasing springs associated therewith, so that normally theouter or free end of the contact lingers are disengaged from oneanother. Thus, when the lever 22 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction from its normal position shown in Fig. l, the

- tipend 32 of the lever 22 engages contact iinger 34a and bends itlaterally into engagement with the contactv iinger 34h which is, inturn, bent laterally into engagement with the contact finger No. On theother hand, when the lever 22 is pivoted in a 'clockwise direction outof its normal position, the Itip end 32 of the lever first engages thecontact lfinger 35a and bends it laterally into engagement with thecontact finger lib which is thereafter bent laterally into contact withthe contact :dnger 35o.

Secured to .the insulating base radially outside the tube Ilinconcentric relation to each other and to the rotational axis of thewheel axle I4 are three closely spaced collector or slip rings 31, 38and 39. The slip ring 3l is connected by a wire 4| .to the two innercontact fingers 34d and 35a, the slip ring 38 is connected by a wire 42to the next adjacent pair oi contact ilngers 34h and 35h, and the slipring 39 is connected by a wire 43 to the outside contact fingers 34o and85e.

Mounted in any suitable manner as by a brush holder device, notshown,'attached to the journal box at the end of the wheel axle It are aplurality of brushes 4l, 48 and 49 that slidably contact the respectiveslip rings 31, II and Sii.

In order to guard against the development of undesired pressures withinthe tube li due to the difference in the expansion characteristicsbetween the fluidI contained within the tubeA and the material of whichthe tube is composed, a thermal expansion device maybe provided,

y shown in the form oi a bellows 5I of ilexible material which issuitably attached, as by iwelding,

' to the tube Il to provide ,a variable volume open to the tubularchamber formed within thetube Il. The bellows Il is arranged radially,as

shown, and a coil spring 52 is interposed be- A tweenI the end oi' thebellows and the shelf 3 3 to resist the'expansion of the bellows 5lexcept in response to temperature changes. In. other words, the inertiaforces on the body of fluid within the tube will be insumcient tocompress `the spring 52 and expand the bellows Il,

assegna It should be apparent that the contact ngers 34a, 34h and kSlicand, in a similar manner, the

contact fingers a, 35h` and 35o form in effect two switches adapted tobe closed in succession with-increasing pivotal displacement of the1ever 22 out of its normal centered position, the electrical connectionsto 'the contact ngers from a stationary point being established by meansof the brushes Mi, 48 and 49 and the slip rings 3l, 38 and 39. It willaccordingly be apparent that electrical circuits may be controlled bythe contact lingers for any desired purpose.

For the purpose of demonstrating a specific application of the inertia.device shown in Fig. l, I have illustrated diagrammatically and infragmentary form a fluid pressure operated vehicle brake equipmentWhich,will now be briefly described.

The brake equipment shown in Fig. 1 comprises a brake cylinder 55adapted upon the supply ci fluid under pressure thereto to effect theapplication oi. suitable brake shoes, not shown, to exert a brakingforce on the car wheel l5 or axle lil, a reservoir 56 charged with fluidunder pressure in any suitable manner, a differential diaphragm magnetvalve device 51 of the type shown and described in detail in Patent2,140,620 to 'Clyde C. Farmer, a fluid pressure operated switch device58, and a source of electrical current such as a. storage battery 59.Valve mechanism 5l comprises briefly a selflapping relay valve devicefor controlling the supply of iluid under pressure from the reservoir 56to the brake cylinder V55 and the release of fluid under pressure fromthe brake cylinder 55, an operating device for the relay valve device inthe form of a pair of axially spaced diaphragms of diierent areasarranged in the casing of the valve mechanism so as to form chamf bersrespectively associated with the diaphragms, and a pair of magnet valvedevices 6I and 62 for controlling the supply of fluid under pressure toand the-release of iiuid under pressure from the chambers associatedwith the respective diaphragms.

The arrangement of the magnet valve devices 6I and 62 is such that whenthe electromagnet .windings thereof are both deenergized, the magnetvalve devices establish communication through which fluid under pressuremay be supplied from a control pipe 60 to the respective chambers at oneside of each of the diaphragme. Control pipe 60 is normally atatmospheric pressure and is charged to a, desired degree of fluidpressure by a manually operated control or brake /valve (not shown).

When the magnet valve device 6| is energized, it cuts off thecommunication from the control `pipe 80 to the chamber associated with'the small- -er oi' the two diaphragms and at the same time vents duidunder pressure therefrom. In a similar manner, when the magnet valve 62is energized it cuts of! the supply of iluid under pressure from pipe 80to the chamber associated with the larger ofthe diaphragms andsimultaneously7` vents fluid under pressure therefrom. When the magnetvalvev device 02 is energized it actuates` a switch contact member 63into engagement with a pair of iixed contact members 84 for thepurposeof establishing a holding circuit to maintain the electromagnetwinding of the magnet valve device energized thereafterA as long as thepressure operated switch 58 is in closed position. f

The pressure operated switch I8 'is subject to thepressure in thecontrol pipe ill and ,comprises a contact member Il which is actuatedinto contact with a pair oi' contact members II when the pressure in thecontrol pipe exceeds a relatively low pressure, such as tive pounds persquare inch. n

One of the contact members ci the pressure switch Il is connected by awire l2 to one terminal, hereinafter referred to as the positiveterminal, ot the battery Il. The other contact member Il of the pressureswitch ,52 is connected by a wire il to the brush l'l of the inertiadevice.

i Brush Il of the inertia device is connected by a wire 'II- to oneterminal oi the electromagnet winding of the magnet valve device Il,while the other terminal of the electromnet -windlng is connected to thenegative terminal oi' the battery ,as by a ground connection in themanner shown; n

The brush l! of the inertia device is connected, as by a wire 12, to oneof the contact members 6| of the magnet valvey device l2 and oncterminalof the' electromagnet winding thereof.

The other contact member M c! the magnet valve device i2 is connected bya branch wire 12 to the wire C! and the other terminal of. theelectromagnet winding oi' the magnet valve device l2 is connected tc thenegative terminal of the battery Il as by a ground connection in themanner shown.A

It wm be recnned that' it was previously stated. that .when the inertiadevice is employed in connection with a brake control equipment thespring 2i associatedwith the actuating lever 22 'for the contact nnsersci the inertial device are tensioned so as to prevent operation of thecon.

tact fingers unless the rate of rotative retardation of theaxle llandcar wheel Il exceeds a rate corresponding to a seven mile per hour persecond rate of retardation of the car or vehicle. Buch a rate ofrotative retardation will not usually be'attained by the vehicle wheeland axle unless the vehicle wheel is slippinl. 'that is,.de celeratlngfrom a rotative speed corresponding to the speed oi' the vehicle towarda locked- -I wheel position. due to the appliedbraking torce vexceedingthe adhesion between the wheel and therailorroadsuriaceonwhichitrolls.

It will be apparent, therefore-that the 4iner-` tia device may beemployed to so control the '-magnet valve devices il and .l2 of thevvalve mechanism l1 as to instantly etiect a reduction.v

of brake cylinder pressure wheny thevehicle wheel begins to slip,thereby causing the vehiclewheel to cease deceleration and begin toaccelerate back 4toward a rotative speed corresponding to vehicle speedwithout decelerating to a lockedwheel state and slidl.

To illustrate the control or tnevclve mecha'- nism 51 exercised by theinertia device, le't it 4be assumedthatthe operator has charged thecontrolplpe tl to a desired pressure so that the valve mechanism. 81 isoperated to supply nuld lunder pressure to the brake cylinder` Il toeilect application ofthe brakes to a degree correspondling to thepressurefestablished in the control pipe and that such degree ofapplication of the brakes causes the vehicle wheel to-slip. Assumglng acounterclockwise direction o! rotation of -the vehicle wheel as seen invPig. l, it will be seen that the deceleration of the vehicle wheel atarate exceeding the' seven mile per hour per second rate will cause theactuating lever 22 or the inertladevice to be shifted in acounterclockwise direction on .the pin :anne to 'the -uc with thecontectnncer un cna the. cn- 1 gagement of the contact nnger 34h withthe contact nnger' c correspondingly completes` the circuits forenergizing the magnet valve device-,6i

and the magnet valve device l2.

The circuit for'energixing the magnetV valve device Il extends frolnthepositive terminal of l5 the battery 59 through wire Il, pressure switch5l now closed due to the pressure in the control pipe on, wire I9, brushI1, slip ring ",Jwire 4|, contact linger' 24a, contact linger 2lb; wireI2,

slip ring as, brush wire 1|, electromagnet 2' winding of the magnetvalve .device Il and to the negative terminal of the battery l! throughthe ground connection shown. A

The circuit for energizing the electromagnet winding of the `magnetvalve device l2 extends 2| from the positive terminal of the battery i!to the contact nger a as Just described, thence by way of the contactnngerllb, contact `finger Mc, wire '42, slip ring 2l, bmah-4l wire",electromagnet winding of the magnet valve device 62 to .the negativeterminal of the battery l -through the ground connectionv shown.

4 Upon the simultaneous encrgisatonof the magnet valve devices," and l2,nuid under pressure, previously supplied to the chambers associatedwithv the operating diaphragm o! the self-lapping valve device forming apart of the valve mechanism I1, is locally vented under the;

control of the `magnet valve devices. The selilappinsvaive device of thevalve mechanism B1 -g is thus correspondingly end instantly operated torelease nuid under pressure locally .from the brake cylinder li so astar-release the brakes yassociated with thecar wheel Il.

when the magnet valve device er is energized. Y

contact member is actuated into contact with the contact members Il aspreviouslyV stated and a holding circuitfor maintaining themagnet oithemagnet valve device vl2 energised thereafter is accordinglyestablished.- This holding circuit extends from the positive terminal o!the battery Il through the wire and pressure switch ssto tnewirc ss, andtnenceny or@ 4thc branch wire 13, contact members and 5'5 of the magnetvalve device I2, wire 12, and elec- 'tromagnet winding of the magnetvalve device I2 to the negative terminal of the'battsry l2- through theground connection shown.

when the iiuid under pressure is rapidly re- Y leased from the brakecylinder Il and the brakes correspondingly released, the vehicle wheel Il ceases to decelerate toward alocked-whe'el state e and begins toaccelerate at a ver'y rapid rate back toward a Vrotative speedcorresponding to the .3 vehicle-speed'. Accordingly. the vehicle-wheelaxle M tends to overameed the fluid in the annular tube Il andconsequently the inertia force j @of kthe nuid in the-tube is acts intheopposite direction to shift-the plunger Il reversely soas to pivotthe actuating lever 2 2 in a clockwise direction on the pin 22 thus'causing fthe contact iingers'ua, Mb and c tobe returned to their normalseparated positions and causing the contact lia, 2lb and llc to u bemutually engaged in the manner previously described.

The rate of acceleration of the vehicle wheel back toward a speedcorresponding to vehicle speed is at least as great as the rate ofdeceleration during the slipping. interval and it will thus be apparentthat suiiicient inertia forces will be exerted by the :fluid in tube l!on the plunger I6 to shift the actuating lever 22 to eil'ect the 1li`engagement oi the contact ngers 35a, 35h

and 35e.

It will loev understood that when the vehicle wheel changes fromdeceleration to acceleration, the actuating lever 22 is shifted to itsnormal l5 position momentarily and thus the energizing circuits of themagnet valve devices 6l and 62 are interrupted momentarily. However, dueto the previously described holding circuit for the magnet valve device62 the momentary interruption of the initial energizing circuit for themagnet valve device 62 is of no effect. However, the magnet valve device6l 'm momentarily deenergized and iluid under pressure may be4momentarily resupplied by valve mechanism 51 to the brake cylinder 55but the magnet valve device 6I is immediately reenergized andconsequently the valve mechanism 51 is again operated to vent such iiuidunder pressure from the brake cylinder.

When the vehicle wheel approaches suillciently close to a rotative speedcorresponding to vehicle speed and the rate of acceleration thereofreduces below the rate requiredto overcome the spring 3| associated withthe actuating lever 22, ulithe spring 3| will return the lever 22 to itsnormal position and the contact fingers a, 35h and 35e will be returnedto their normal separated positions. At such time, the interruption ofthe energizing circuit of the magnet valve 40 device 6i causes it to bede'energized and iluid under pressure is accordingly resupplied from thecontrol pipe 60 to fthe chamber associated with the smaller of thediaphragms. 'I'he magnet' valve device B2, however, remains energizedY ldue to the previously described holding circuit and consequently fluidunder pressure is not resupplied to the chamber associated with the inthe brake cylinder I! in accordance with the l ratio of the area of thetwo diaphragms.

n wut thus be seen um the meras. device functions to instantly andrapidly release iluid under pressure from brake cylinder 5l so as toprevent a slipping wheel from decelerating'to a locked- 35 wheelcondition and sliding and also, when the vehicle wheel is restoredsubstantially to a.I rota-l tive speed corresponding to vehicle speedonce more, to reestablish a brake cylinder 'pressure which is less thanthat which initiated the' slipping. I'hus recurrence of slipping is-rendered unlikely.'

- When a vehicle comes to a stop as a result of an application of thebrakes, the brakes may be released prior to again starting the car bymerely reducing the pressure in the control pipe N to and consequently alesser pressure is established atmospheric pressure so as to vent fluidunder pressure from the chambers associated with the operatingdiaphragms of the self-lapping valve device of the valve mechanism 5l.When the pressure in the control pipe B0 is reduced to at- 5 mosphericpressure, pressure switch 58 opens all of the circuits to the magnetvalve devices Bl and 62, including the holding circuit for the magnetvalve device 62, and the magnet valve devices are accordingly restoredto their normal deenerglzed ld positions.

It wi1l`be apparent that if the vehicle wheel is rotating in a clockwisedirection, that is opposite to the previously assumed direction ofrotation, at the time slipping of the car wheel occurs, the 'iii inertiadevice will operate, in a similar manner, to effect the same operationof the valve mechanism 51 as that lust described. -v

It should be understood that while I have illustrathl ely described anapplication of the inertia 20 device of my invention in a vehicle brakecontrol equipment so as to prevent sliding of the vehicle wheels only,the inertia device may be employed to control the brake cylinderpressure so as to regulate the rate of retardation ot the vehicle to 25a substantially constant rate. In auch case, the coil springs ll forcentering the actuating lever 22 oi the contact lingers may be adjustedto permit displacement of the actuating lever sufficient to causeengagement of the first two contact fingers 3 at a rate of retardationoi' the vehicle such as three miles per hour per second and engagementof the last two contact lingers at a rate of retardation of the vehicleof three and a half or four miles per hour per second. In such case, the35 brake control equipment controlled by the inertia device may comprisea cut-ofi' magnet valve device and a release magnet valve devicecontrolled solely by the engagement oi the rst two and last two contactlingers respectively. 40

Emboiment shown in Figs. s, 4, 5 and 6 Referring to Figs. 3 to 6,another embodiment of an inertia device of the fluid type is disclosed.

In this embodiment, the specific manner of appll- 45 cation to the endof a car wheel axle and its relation to the usual journalhousingsurrounding the axle is shown. Furthermore .the device is adaptedto be secured as' a unit to the end of the axle, the contact lingers orswitch mechanism is 'sub- 5i; stantially enclosed, and a novel slip ringarrangement is provided for establishing electrical connection from thestationary axle journal housing to the contact iingerscf the inertiadevice.

As seen in Figs. 3 and 4, a disc-like casing llo 55 is provided havingan annular chamber therein for containing a 'fluid in the manner of theannular tube Il of Fig. 1. The casing lla is secured to the end oi theaxle i4 by a plurality of screws Ita for rotation on an axis coincidentwith 60 the rotational axis of the axle I4.

The annular chamber in the casing i la is open at one point thereof andeach open end is respectively closed by a Sylphon bellows 8l suitablywelded or bonded to the casing, thereby-65 forming a closed `chamber andeliminating the possibility of leakage of fluid out oi the chamber.

The outer closed ends of the two bellows 8l face each other in spacedrelation and are provided with suitable bearing members 82 thereon 70having complementary spherical recesses for receiving the sphericalknob-like end on the actuating lever 22a, corresponding to the actuatinglever 22 shown in Fig. l. The lever 22a is plvoted at a point close tothe knob-like end of the lever u ss the dii-eetmeter the.actuating-1an;l

22a on a pin 23"a suitably fixed to the casing Ila. suitably attachedtov thecasing Ila, as by a plurality of screws 84, is an insulating base85 that is circular in form and has t'wo arcuate side 5 walls 86 forsupporting an outer end cover 81 of insulating material inparallelspaced relation to the insulating base v85.Y As will beseen in Figs. 4and 5, the end cover 51 and the basel5 are provided .-with suitableholes for receiving the securing screws or bolts 84 which serve to holdthe end cover 81 and the insulating base l5 togetheraswellastosecurebothtothecaaing'lla. j As seen especially in Fig. 5, aplurality of flexible resilient contact fingers lla, IIb, 18a, and 95hare disposed in the space between the insulating base $5 and end coverl1, the contact fingers l being attached to angle brackets I1 which arein turn secured to the insulating Vbase'by screws Il. The contactlingers are preferably formed of steel except for the tip' or contactends thereof whic may be of special low resistance metal.

The insulating base 85 is secured to the casing I I a in sucha positionthat the'actuatinl lever 22a extends radially'with respect to the axisof the walls 85 of Athe insulating base, the inner end of the actuatinglever terminating vslightlybeyond theaxisoftheaxleIl.l The contactiingersjsia and 58a are secured to the insulating base so as to beldisposed in parallel relation to each other and for opposite sidesrespectively of the actuating lever 22a, the securing brackets '$1 beingfixed near the periphery of the insulating base 55 and the free end ofthe contact Afingers being separatedby the' insulating tip l2 providedon the end of the actuat to but out of contact with the contact-ngers95a and 55a. respectively. A suitable adjusting screw 40| lfor each ofthe contact fingers is'carriedby and secured to the bracket 91 ofthe'icorresponding contact-linger by .suitable nuts |02, As will be seenin Fig, 5, suitable stops 103, formedas projecting lugs on theVinmilating base 85, are provided for limiting the movement ott-therespective contact fingers in 22a under the iniiuence of thecorrespondingscrew IM. Thus the more tightlya contact finger is pressedagainst its corresponding stop Illby the adjusting screw Illy therefor,the greater is dothe force required to flex or bend the contact fingerout of its normal position shown in Pig'. 5 in a direction away from theactuating lever.

This feature of adjusting the tensionof'the con-'- tact iingerswill bereferred to hereinafter and* to thefu'ncticnsand IIb so' as to beengaged thereby-when th con' tact linger i's bent laterally from itsnormal posi-.- tion is acontact member vIII which issecuredA te andcarried by a 'projecting lnur formed cnt-he insulting base I5. -Inasoontact ber llisprovided 4radially outward of 1 the `contact linger band i'sadaptcdto' beeft-' i car axle Il substantially midwaybetween theside tip ends of the contact fingers terminate adjacent adiusting...socket inthe sllpring elements lll, I II'and l2! gaged by the contacttip of the contact -iinger 98h when it is bent laterally away from thevactuating lever 22a. f

Itshould now be apparent that the arrangement of the contact ngers l5a55h, 86a. 88h and 5 the `contact members |55 and I'Il correspnd innature and function to that of the contact fingers described intheembodiment shown in Fig. 1. Thus, when the actuating lever 22a is rockedon the pivot pin 23a -in a counterclockwise direction as seen in-Flg. 5thecontact linger 95a is first bent Ylaterally -until vthe contact endthereog engages the contact end of the contact finger h. Thereafter,when the force displacing the actuat'- inglever 22a increasessuiiiciently to overcome 15 the additional tension of the contact finger55h, the contsctnngers su ma atb are bent together laterally until 'thecontact end of the contact nger Ibi engages .the contact member I 05 tolimit further displacement or bending of the contact I vlingers.

In a similar manner, when the actuating lever 22a, is pivotally rockedin a clockwise direction.- the contact end ,oi' the contactnger 56a isshifted laterally into engagement with the co'n- 25 tact end offthecontact linger lib and, thereafter, upon an'increasing displacing'forcebeing exerted on the: actuating lev'er 22a sumcient to overcome theadded tension of the contat llinger i )5b. the two contact ngers are'further bentlat- 3 erally out of their' normal positionsuntil thecontact end of the contact linger 56h. engages contact member'll.

It will be apparent that, the individual adiusting screws /IIII ofthecontact iinsers'enables ad- 35' justment of each contact linger so thatthe clos ing of electrical circuits may-be effected at any'. desiredrate o'f rotative deceleration and accelera- -tion of the car wheel axleIl, thereby adapting the device for. operation either as a retardation40 controller or as a device for guarding against the sliding ofthevehicle wheels.

Accordingto my invention, a novel arrange ment for establishingelectrical connections to the contact lingers and contact members |05and |58 of the inertia device is provided in the form of a aremovableplug-III similar -in appearance and nature to the plugs employed intelephone switch boards. -Asshown'in 'Flg. 4, :the plug III is `adapted'to be insertedV in al suitable socket or ,bore II! located in coaxialalignment with the rotational axis of the car wheel axle Il' and pro-.vid'ed in an end cover ill that is adapted to be secured inconventional manner to the outer end of thejournal II5 supporting theaxle Il. In 5 Fig. 3. only the end of the Journal II5 is shown, thevendcover III being removed.

The plug III isv provided with three Alongitudinally spaced 'slip ringelements III, I2 I and |22. 'ofsuccessively -increasing diameters in theorder mentioned, arranged in insulated v relation with respect lto oneanother and the body of the plug III ,theslip elementslll, III and I!!vhaving wires, corresponding to .the wires'll, 1I and .12 oftheembodiment of Figgl, respectively connected thereto vthrough the body'.of thelplg, vin the conventional manner of telephone. switch fboardnluu.

When the :plug I II is fully inserted in the arefrespectivelyengagedbetween corresponding 7 of'contact spring prongs |25, Illas/xi H1. Thepairs. o! p rongs 125, Ill and ITI/are .co`n- I nested toms integrallyformed with ccrrespnainstemming. stramien-fus and m nailed..

rio?

in the insulating end cover 81 attached to the insulating base 85. Inpractice, the pairs'of prongs and their connecting straps are embeddedin the insulating end cover 81 when the end cover is formed or mouldedof material, such as Bakelite.

Each of the straps |35, |35 and |31 has a terminal post |45, |46 and|41, respectively, which projects out of the inner face Vof theinsulating end cover 81 opposite the prongs and is threaded to receivesuitable nuts for securing electric wires thereto.

The terminal post |45 for the prongs 25 is connected by a wire |55 tothe contact fingers 95a and 96a, the wire |55 having two branches whichare respectively secured to the brackets 91 of the contact fingers underthe attaching.

screw 98 therefor.

In a similar manner, the terminal post |45 for the prongs |25 isconnected by a wire |55 to the two contact fingers 95h and 95h, the wirei5@ having two branches that are respectively secured to the brackets 91of the corresponding `contact, iingers under the securing screws 98therefor.

The terminal post |41 for the prongs |21 is connected by a wire 51 tothetW,o contact members |05 and |05, which are provided with suitableterminal posts to which two branches of the wire |51 are respectivelyconnected.

It should thus be apparent that as the car wheel axle |4 rotates, thecontact ngers 05a and 96a are constantly connected through the prongs|25 and slip ring element ||9 to the wire 69. Also, the contact lingers95h and 06h are constantly connected through the prongs |26 and slipring element |2| to the Wire 1|,v and contact members |05 and |06 areconstantly connected through the prongs |21 and slip ring element |22 tothe Wire 12.

Accordingly, when the contact iinger 05a. is'

5|' and the engagement o! the contact 051) with the contact member |06establishes a circuit for energizing the magnet valve device 52.

I' lieved unnecessary to describe the operation of to as such operationis equivalent to-that of the de- In view of the description of theoperation of the inertia device shown in Fig. 1, it is bethe embodimentshown in Figs. 3 to 6 inasmuch vice shown in Fig. 1.

Forsimplicity, I have omitted a thermal expansion device correspondingtothe bellows 5| vshown in Hg. 1 from the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 to6 but it will be understoodthat such feature may be employed in andapplied to the device shown in the latter embodiment.

It will be observed however that in the embodiment shown in'Fig. 1, theprovision and ar,

rangement of the coil springs 3| is'such that selective adjustment ofthe amount of inertia. force.exerted on the actuating lever 22 tooperate successive contact iingers cannot be eiiected since theadjustment of the tension of the spring 3| aects the operation of allcontact fingers by the actuating lever. As distinguished from suchconstruction, each of the'contact fingers in the embodiment shown inFigs.` 3 to 6 is individually adjustable in tension so that theengagement of the contact linger 95a for example with the contact linger95b may be effected at a certainl ate of rotative retardation oracceleration of the car wheel axle and the engagement of the contactringer 95h with the contact member |05 may be. effected at any desiredrate of. rotative retardation or acceleration of the car axle |4. Thusit will be seen that the selective "adjustment of the individual contactfingers is a particular feature of the second Vdescribed embodimentwhich is not present in the first described embodiment.

While I have shown and described only two embodiments of my invention,it should be apparent that various omissions, additions or modicationsmay be made in the embodiments shown `Without departing from the spiritof the invention. It is accordingly not my intention to limit the scopeof my invention except as it is necessitated by the scope of the priorart.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new 4and desire Vtosecure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A device for registering the rate of change of rotative speed of arotary member, comprising a casing having an annular chamber in which isconned a body of liquid, said casing being adapted to be rotated on anaxis that intersects thefcenter of curvature of the annular chamber andin accordance withthe speed oi rotation of the rotary member, and meansoperatively controlled by the inertia forces exerted by the body ofliquid in accordance with the rate of change of rotative speed o f saidcasing.

2. A device for registering the rate of change of rotative speed of arotary member, compris- .ing a casing having an annular chamber in whichis confined a body of liquid, said casing being adapted to be rotated onan axis that intersects ythe centerof curvature of the annular chamberand according to the speed of rotation of the rotary member, pressureresponsive means on which the inertia force of thebody of liquid isexertedin varying degree according to the rate of change of rotativespeed of said casing, and means operative by movement of said pressureresponsive means.

3. A device for registering the rate of change of rotative speed of arotary member, comprising a'casing having a tubular chamber thereinformed in the shape of an annulus and having two adjacentopen ends, amovable abutment interposed between the open ends of the tubular chamberand cooperating with the casing in a manner to close the open ends ofthe chamber., a

body of liquid lling said tubular chamber, said casing being adaptedvtobe rotated on an axis intersecting the center of curvature of thetubular chamber and according to the speed vci rotation oi the rotarymember, whereby said movable abutment is subject to the inertia forcesof the body oi liquid and shifted in'one direcvlng a casing having anannular chamber in which is coniined a body ofliquid, said casing beingadapted to be rotated on Yan axis that inter# of liquid is exerted invarying de'ree according to the rateof' change o! rotative speed oi saidcasing, switch means adapted to be operated by movement of the pressureresponsive means, and means for establishing a omtinuous electricalconnection from the switch means to a stationary member.

5. A device for registeringthe rate of change ofrotative speed of arotary member, comprising a casing having an annular-chamber in which isconned a body oi liquid. said casing being adapted to be rotated on anaxis that intersects the center of curvature of the annular chamber andaccording to thespeed of rotation of the rotary member, pressureresponsive means on which the inertia force o! the body v of liquid isexerted infvarying degree according lbeng adapted to be rotated on anaxis that finto the rate or change of rotative speed oi said casing,switch means carried by the said casing adapted to b e operated bymovement of the pressure responsive means, and means including aplurality of slipl'inss and cooperating brushes for establishing acontinuous electrical connection from the switch means to a stationaryelement.

6. A device for registering the rate of change of rotative speed of arotary member,v c

comprising a casing having' an annular chamber inwhich isconilnedabodyoi'liquid,saidcaslng tersects. the center-oi o!` theannular` chamber andaccording-to the'speed of rotation oftherotary'member,prsurc responsive means on which the inertia force of thebody of liquid is exerted in varying degree according to the rate ofchange of rotative speed of said casing, switchmeans carried by thecasing and adapted to be operated by movement ofthe pressure responsivemeans, a stationaryme'mber, a plurality oi' slip rings carried by thestationary member in concentric relation to the axis of rotation of thesaid casing, and contact members associated with the switch means and.carried by the said casing for respectively contacting correspondingindividualslip rings to provide a continuous electrical connection fromthe switch means to a point sta-v tionary with respect to said rotarymember.

7. A device for registering'the rate of change of rotative 'speed of arotarymembe'r comprising a casing having an annular chamber in whichis-conilned a body of liquid, said casingbeing adapted to be rotated onan axis that intersects the center of curvature of the annular chamberand accor g to the speedof rotation oi' the rotary mem r, a movableabutment subject to and movable out of a normal position in response to-the inertia forces exerted thereon by the body frs of liquid in saidchamber upon vchanges in the rate of rotative speed of said casing, alever pivoted on said casing and cooperating with saidU ot rotativespeed oi a rotary member comprising a casing having en annular chamberin'which is `adapted'to be rotated on 'an axis 'that intersects confineda body of liquid, said casing being adaptyed to be rotated on an axisthat intersects the center of curvature of the annular chamber andaccording to the speed offrotation of the rotary membena movableabutment subject to and movf able out of a normal position in responseto'the inertia forces exerted thereon by the body of liquid'in saidchamber upon changes in the rate of rotative speed'oi said casing, alever pivoted on said casing and cooperating with saida'butment in amanner to be pivotally moved according to the movement of said abutment,spring means adapted to oppose pivotal lmovement of' said lever by saidabutment, and-switch means adapted to beoperated by pivotal movement ofsaid lever.

9. A device for registering the rate archange of rotative speed of -arotary member comprising a casing having an annular' chamber in which isconfined a body of liquid, said casing being the center or curvature oi'the annularchamber and-according to the speed of rotation of the rotarymember, a movable abutment subject lto and movable out of a normalposition in response to 2B the inertia forces exerted vthereon by thebody of liquid in said chamber upon changes in the rate of rotativespeed of said casingI a .lever pivoted von said casing and cooperatingwith said abutment in a manner to be pivotally moved accord- .'ing tothe movement or said abutment, spring means adapted to oppose pivotalmovement o! said lever by said abutment, switch means adaptedto' beoperated by pivotal movement of said electrical connection from'saidswitch means to a point stationary with respect to said casing.

10. A device for registering the rate of change -ot rotative speed, oiarotary member, comprising -lever, and means for establishing acontinuous' 35 i gree corresponding to the rate of change of rotativespeed of thesaid casing, a .lever pivoted on said casingand adapted tobe pivotally moved ouil o! a normal position in response to theexpansion of one or the other of said bellows. and control means carriedby the casing and adapted to be operated by pivotal'movement of saidlever.

11. A device for registering the rate of change of rotative speed of arotary'm'ember, comprising a casing having a tubular chamber arranged'inI the form ci an annulus with two adjacent open ends. a pair of Sylphonbellows respectively closing the open `ends of said tubular chamber, a

body of liquid filling said tubular chamber and adapted toexert aninertia torce on one or the, other of said bellows to cause expansionthereof to a degree'corresponding to the rate of change oi' rotativespeed of the-said casing, a lever pivotedon said casing and adapted tobe pivotally moved out of a normal position in response to the expansionof one or the other of said bellows, and switch means having twonormally disengaged switch members adapted to be shifted into engagementupon -a predetermined pivotal movement oi the said lever out oi itsnormal position. 1 2. A device for registering the rate of change orrotative-speed of arotary member, comprising a casing having an annularchamber in whichis confined a body l'cifnquid, aua casing bem:

adapted to be rotated on an axis that intersects y the center ofcurvature of the annular chamber and according to the speed of rotationof the rotary member, a movable abutment subject to and movable out of anormal position in response to the inertia force exerted by the body ofliquid in said annular chamber upon changes in the rate oi rotativespeed oi said casing, a lever pivoted on said casing and adapted to bepivotally moved 10 according to the movement ofthe said movableabutment, and switch means carriedby the said casing including a pair offlexible resilient contact fingers and a fixed contact member, saidflexible contact iingers and ilxed contact member being so arrangedthat, upon pivotal movement of the said lever out of its normalposition, one of said iiexible contact iingers is shifted into contactwith the other of said contact fingers and thereafter both oi.' saidcontact fingers are moved together until the other of said contact ngersengages thesaid xed contact member.

i3. A device for registering the rate of change of rotative speed of arotary member, comprising a casing having an annular chamber in which ises confined a body/0r uquid, said casing being adapted to be rotated onan axis that intersects the \cent'er of curvature of the annular chamberand according to the speed of rotation of the rotary member, a movableabutment subject to and movable out oi a normal position in response tothe inertia force exerted by the body o! liquid in said annular chamberupon changes in the rate oi rotative speed of said casing, a leverpivoted on said casing and adapted to be pivotaily moved '35 accordingto the movement of the said movable abutment, switch-means .carried bythe said casing including a pair of flexible resilient contact fingersand a iixed contact member, said ilexv ible contact lingers and iixedcontact member 4'@ being so arranged that. upon pivotal movement of thesaid lever out oi its normal position, one

of said flexible contact iingers is shifted into contact with theotherof said contact fingers and 14. A device for registering the rate ofchange of rotative speed of a rotary member, comprising a casing havingan annular chamber in which is coniined a body of liquid, said casingbeing adapted to be rotated on an axis that `intersects the center ofcurvature of the annular chamber y,

and according to the speed of ,rotation oi the rotary member, pressureoperated means responsive to the inertia forces exerted thereon by thebody of liquid upon changes in the rate of rotative Speed oi' saidcasing, and means for preventing undesired operation of the last saidmeans by pressure forces developed in the body of liquid due to 'changesin temperature.

l5. A device for registering the rate of change oi rotative speed of arotary member, comprising acasing having an annular chamber in which isconiined a body of liquid, said casing being adapted to be rotated on anaxis that intersects the center ci curvature of the annular chamber andaccording to the speed of rotation oi the 'rotary member, meansoperative in response to the inertia iorces exerted by theibody ofliquid upon changes in the rate of rotative speed'of said casing, andmeans providing an expansible chamber open to the said annular chamberto accommodate the increased volume of the liquid in said annularchamber due to changes in temperature. I

16. A device for registering the rate of change of rotative speed of arotarymember, comprising a casing having an annular chamber in whichis'coniined a body oi liquid, said casing l being adapted to be rotatedon an axis that inposing expansion of said expansible chamber except inresponse to pressure forces developed due to changes in temperature.

EVERET'I' P. SEXTON.

